3 case fans with a motherboard which has only 2 fan headers

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kilfeather94

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I'm currently in the middle of ordering parts for my first gaming rig. The case for my build is the Corsair 460x RGB, which has three SP120 RGB fans at the front. The case has a fan hub which controls the lighting for each fan. The motherboard I have ordered is the MSI H110M gaming motherboard, which is microATX. I have only after noticing now that it only has 2 chassis fan headers. I'm just wondering, if it would be best to either order a full sized ATX, which has more fan headers or get a fan splitter cable. Is it safe to use a fan splitter cable? Would the fan splitter affect the lighting controls on the case, since 2 fans would be joined to the one splitter?
 
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For what you describe, I agree with your plan. Get a Splitter and use it to connect two of the fans to one SYS_FAN header. Then the other fan alone to the other header. That way for sure your fans will be under automatic mobo control.

Just want to clarify what you need. A SPLITTER has one arm with a female (with holes) connector on its end to plug into a mobo header. It does not matter whether it is for a 3-pin or a 4-pin system - either type will work for you. Then it has two or three output arms that each terminate in male (with pins) connectors, and you plug your fans into those. It has no other arms.

A HUB has those arms, PLUS one more that must connect directly to a power output from the PSU - either 4-pin Molex or SATA Power. It...
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Paul NZ

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I'm using 2 fan splitters in this case that came with 5 fans. The mobo here only has 2 headers as well (if you dont use the CPU fan header).

The back fan is connected to its own header, I used one splitter on the CPU 4 pin, and shared it with a top fan.

The other splitter on the 2nd header is shared with the other top fan and one of the front fans. And one front fan had to be connected with a molex

I think the headers can support up to 1A. So if you use spliiters make sure it doesnt go over 1A.

Whatever youre connecting to them
 
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kilfeather94

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Hi Paul, sorry for sounding like such a noob, but when you say one fan was connected with a molex, does this mean you connected it to the PSU? I'm only missing one case fan header on the mobo, for the third fan on my case, so is it possible to simply just connect that third fan to the PSU, using molex? Also, if I'm connecting this fan to the PSU, which slot in the PSU does it connect to? https://seasonic.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/0029.jpg Here's an image of the back of the PSU that I have ordered.

 
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Paperdoc

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If I read the manuals correctly, the "controller" module for those fans that comes with the case only controls their colours. It seems (not sure!) that their speeds are controlled by the mobo fan header you connect to the fan "controller". You are supposed to connect a cable from one mobo SYS_FAN header to the controller's 3-pin input connector for this.

Now, the fans and the supplied controller are designed for use with 3-pin fan systems - that is, a SYS_FAN header that uses Voltage Control Mode. Well, your mobo does exactly that, so you're good there.

Regarding the number of fans, don't worry. Any standard fan header can supply up to 1.0 amps total to all its fans, and most common case ventilation fans (yours included) use no more than 0.2 amps each. So 3 fans on one mobo SYS_FAN header is entirely OK.

I doubt you need a splitter. If I understand the manuals correctly, you will plug all your fans into that included controller so it can control their colours. BUT it also takes the power from ONE SYS_FAN header and distributes it to all three fans, just as a Splitter would do. Since your mobo SYS_FAN header will use varying voltage to control whatever is connected to it, all three fans will have their speeds controlled identically by that mobo header. Now, IF the case also has fan speed selection buttons on it associated with the fan "controller", I suggest you start by setting it to High (so it does not interfere) and then see if the mobo actually does change the fan speeds as your workload changes.
 
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kilfeather94

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Hey, I had a look at the fan controller / hub, which has 6 slots. 3 of these slots are occupied by each of the three fans RGB LED cables. It appears that this fan hub / controller only allows you to connect the RGb led cables that come with each fan. Each of the three fans also have three pin connectors which are currently not connected to anything. Would I connect one of these three cables to one of the SYS_FAN headers and connect the other two cables to the other SYS_FAN header? Also, I checked the fans themselves and each use 0.30 amps (12 volts).

 
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Paperdoc

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For what you describe, I agree with your plan. Get a Splitter and use it to connect two of the fans to one SYS_FAN header. Then the other fan alone to the other header. That way for sure your fans will be under automatic mobo control.

Just want to clarify what you need. A SPLITTER has one arm with a female (with holes) connector on its end to plug into a mobo header. It does not matter whether it is for a 3-pin or a 4-pin system - either type will work for you. Then it has two or three output arms that each terminate in male (with pins) connectors, and you plug your fans into those. It has no other arms.

A HUB has those arms, PLUS one more that must connect directly to a power output from the PSU - either 4-pin Molex or SATA Power. It gets all power for the fans from the PSU, rather than from the mobo header. HOWEVER, this device MUST be used with a mobo header that is using PWM Mode (because it needs a PWM signal to work), and it can only control 4-pin fans. Other styles of Hub may not look like just several wire arms, but instead like a box with cables and connectors. Do NOT get a Hub.

By the way, I suspect (not positive) that the 0.3 amps per fan includes the current used by its LED's, and the fan motor uses less. In your case, the fan motors will all be powered by the mobo headers, but the LED's on them will be powered by the case's control Hub, which gets power for those LED's from a connection to the PSU.
 
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kilfeather94

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Cool. I'll use a splitter so. Would this one do the trick? http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Shakmods-3-pin-Fan-Y-Splitter-20cm-Black-Sleeved-Extension-Cable-UK-First-Class-/151496940044?hash=item2345ebda0c:g:JAgAAOSw0vBUe3Rw

The SYS_FAN header on my mobo is 4-pin and the fan connectors are 3-pin.

 
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Paperdoc

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Yes, that's fine. When you get them, you will find that the 3-pin splitter's female connector will fit onto the first three pins of the mobo header, with ridges on its side fitting around a tongue sticking up from the mobo. It only fits on one way. The header's 4th pin simply will be left bare.
 
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kilfeather94

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Hey, sorry for the late reply. Ordered the splitter. Also, it just occurred to me, I forgot about an exhaust fan at the rear of the case. The case I have, the Corsair 460X RGB, has three fans at the front. Would these three fans on their own provide enough ventilation? Or would it be a better idea to get another fan for the rear of the case also? If so, should I connect that rear fan to the PSU or get another splitter and join it with another fan on the mobo?

 
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